Paleness is an abnormal loss of color from normal skin or
.
Unless pale skin is accompanied by pale lips, tongue, palms of the hands, inside of the mouth, and lining of the eyes, it is probably not a serious condition and does not require treatment.
General paleness affects the entire body. It is most easily seen on the face, lining of the eyes, inner mouth, and nails. Local paleness usually affects a single limb.
How easily paleness is diagnosed varies with skin color and the thickness and amount of blood vessels in the tissue under the skin. Sometimes it is only a lightening of skin color. Paleness may be difficult to detect in a dark-skinned person and is detected only in the eye and mouth lining.
Paleness may be the result of decreased blood supply to the skin. It can also be due to decreased number of red blood cells (anemia). Paleness of the skin is not the same as loss of pigment from the skin. Paleness is related to blood flow in the skin rather than deposit of melanin (that creates normal skin pigmentation) in the skin.
Paleness can be caused by:
(
, poor nutrition, or underlying disease)
Problems with the circulatory system
(long-term) diseases including infection and
Certain medicines
Certain vitamin deficiencies
Contact your health care provider or 911 or the local emergency number if a person suddenly develops generalized paleness. Emergency action may be needed to maintain proper blood circulation.
Also contact your provider if paleness is accompanied by
, or other unexplained symptoms.
Your provider will examine you and ask about your medical history and symptoms, including:
Did the paleness develop suddenly?
Did it happen after reminders of a
?
Are you pale all over or only in one part of the body? If so, where?
What other symptoms do you have? For example, do you have pain, shortness of breath, blood in the stool, or are you
?
Do you have a pale arm, hand, leg or foot, and cannot feel a
in the area?
Tests that may be ordered include:
(CBC)
Treatment will depend on the cause of paleness.
Skin - pale or gray; Pallor
Ko CJ. Approach to skin diseases. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 403.
Madigan LM, Schwarzenberger K, Callen JP. Dermatologic manifestations in patients with systemic disease. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 53.
Updated by: Ramin Fathi, MD, FAAD, Director, Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, Phoenix, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.